Wonder Woman Blu-ray Review

Is this woman just as wonderful in Blu?

There's a tremendous amount of action in this Wonder Woman adventure and an equal amount of sword strikes, gunshots, punches, kicks and thundering music to accompany the action. The Dolby TruHD 5.1 transfer offers a sizeable soundscape, well-balanced and never short on the appropriate volume or bass, but provides relatively little difference from the SD's Dolby Digital track. It's not quite at the level of a live-action Hollywood blockbuster, but for an animated film, the mix is rather impressive. There are a few clever instances of directional audio while the rest of the track delivers in its own right. It's big, it's bold and it won't leave Wonder Woman fans disappointed.

Score: 8 out of 10

Packaging and Extras

These DC animated DVDs are beginning to earn a reputation for expertly conceived and executed bonus content, one which will only be strengthened by this latest release:

Normally, commentaries are the place from which to cull all the pontificating of a film's creators in lieu of a really well-produced set of extras. That's not the case here. While Novak and Timm and Jelenic and Montgomery are all whip-smart and have a lot to say about Wonder Woman, there's actually more to be found in the documentaries on disc two, and many of the points made here are reiterated in greater, detail later on. Thankfully, the 10-minute look at the early production of the Green Lantern seems incredibly promising, opening the door just wide enough for a tantalizing sneak peek.

Oddly, they've tossed a few of the older featurettes on here, "previewing" projects that have already been released such as Batman: Gotham Knight and Justice League – or even an older featurette about the very same Wonder Woman movie — and while these might seem like antiquated inclusions, they're filled with such intelligence and insight that they still have something to offer if you've yet to see them.

It's the second disc that really shines, offering two 30-45 minute documentaries that contextualize Wonder Woman and dig into the comic and mythological history with incredible depth. If you've never been a die-hard fan of the character, think of this as a master class, lead by comic book icons, taking you on a journey from Wonder Woman's creation to her very origins in mythology to her modern day counterparts. While there's some overlap in discussing the character's impact on the feminist movement, each documentary has a distinct focus, and through the wit and intelligence of those involved, never gets boring and never lacks for anything interesting to say. This is the visual encyclopedia of the Wonder Woman universe, fascinating for the uninitiated and a great reminder for the core fans of just where this iconic character came from. Overall, a fantastic achievement.